Rahul Questions Vaccine Exports, Says Vaccine Shortage a Serious Issue

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has come down heavily on the Narendra Modi government at the center questioning the logic behind export of Covid vaccines to various countries. In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul has said that “India had the first mover advantage in vaccination and yet we are moving at snail’s pace. Historically, India has achieved abundant experience in designing and executing some of the world’s biggest vaccination programs. Yet in the present case, we have managed to fully vaccinate less than 1% of the population in 3 months. Countries with sizeable populations have managed to vaccinate relatively many more people.”

In the letter, he questioned the government over export of vaccines to other countries asking “There is no clear reason as to why the government permitted large-scale exports of vaccines. While our nation is facing vaccine starvation, more than 6 crore doses of vaccines have been exported. The state governments are repeatedly highlighting vaccine shortages only to receive intemperate statements by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare targeting Opposition-ruled states, undercutting cooperative federalism which you too have stressed as essential.”